10 Wrestling Facts We Didn't Know Last Week (March 31)

4. Triple H Almost Walked After The 'Curtain Call' Incident

Following a house show in Madison Square Garden on May 19, 1996, the close-knit quartet of Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, Shawn Michaels and Triple H decided to break kayfabe (Nash and Triple H were heels) to embrace one another. The incident became known as the 'Curtain Call'.

Bedlam ensued behind the scenes; angry at 'The Kliq' for disrespecting the business, several officials (including Jim Cornette) told Vince McMahon that he needed to hand out some punishments. That posed a problem, because the Nash/Hall duo were WCW-bound and Michaels was WWF Champ.

Therefore, only Triple H was punished; meeting with McMahon, the future COO of WWE told Sports Illustrated that he only wanted to know if he would be penalised permanently or if there was "light at the end of the tunnel".

McMahon gave him the indication that any punishment would be long-term but not forever, and that is why Triple H stayed put. Rather unbelievably, 'The Game' was apparently ready to quit the promotion if he was going to be jobbed out for good.